Automatic pattern controlled machine tools



Sept. 16, 1952 w, 0555 AUTOMATIC PATTERN CONTROLLED MACHINE TOOLS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 24, 1951 IIVVL'NTOB MR5 DEBS PER HTTOBNEX Se t. 16, 1952 w. P. BOBBS 2,610,447

' AUTOMATIC PATTERN CONTROLLED MACHINE TOOLS Filed May 24, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,5 i INVENTOB MEBDBBS Pm HTTORIVE! Sept. 16, 1952 w, p, 50555 AUTOMATIC PATTERN CONTROLLED MACHINE TOOLS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 24 1951 INVENTOR W-RBOBBS PER (tr-roams! grinding wheel and the workpiece,

- such as a f atenteci Sept. i6,

AUTOMATIC PATTERN ooN'rRoLLED p I V w MACHINE TOOLS William Peter Bobbs; Toronto, Ontario, Canada,

assignor to A.V.- Roe Canada Limited,

Peel, Ontario, Canada, a corporation App'licfation May 1951, SerialNo. 228,033 p 11 Claims; (01.51-101) Theinvention relates to machine tools and more particularly to automatic pattern: controlled machine tools, utilizing rotary masterforms and workspindles. p U V In machine tools adapted to grind a workpiece to fine limits;;it is the practice to-useaccurately machined slideways for slidably sup--' porting the wo'rktabilefland the tool head to per- But the necessary relative movements of the A machine tool incorporating such slideways is expensive to build; and, moreover such slideways rapidly wear and flo se their accuracy, since it'isvery difiicult toipreventthe entry of particles of grit from the grindingwheels of the machine. This necessitates frequent complete overhauls of the machine in an endeavour t o restorethe'accuracy thereon J: One of the objects: of; the; present invention is, therefore, to'provide amachine tool which, whilst possessing the requisite degree of accuracy of operation, is of a' relatively cheap and simple construction, and which, moreover, isprotected against'the entryof grit into the parts permit ting relative 'movement'of the tool head and the worktable; thereby insuringlonger lntervals 'be tween overhauls of the machine with a conse-' duent saving in operating costs. 1 Due to the irregular shape-of some workpieces, blade-ofthe turbine of a'gas turbine enginepit is hotlposjsible to machine the whole blade surface usingaconstantrectilinear feed of thework table. A-f-urther objectof the present invention is,theref ore, the provision of an automatic pattern' controlled machine toolin corporating means td permit such irregular shaped workpieces-to -becompletely machined withonesetup.

.The above and in th'er objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent 'froma perusal of the following description of some 'ernbodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in'which:- f

H Figure 11 is a perspective-view of a-two spindle automatic patternccontrolled machine tool, "parts being :shown broken away I and in'section to illustrate more clearly the constructionof the machine V. ;l f: j V

Figure'Z is a frontelevation, partly iii-section? Figure 3 is. a horizontal section on the line' 3-3; OfFigureZ; I 'i I 1 '1, l .l.

Figure 4is a section on and 1/, 1;, I.fl.' .3 a I w i i w 1; Figure ,5 is ia di'agramillustratingth'e relative theili'ne i -din Fig. 2:1

Maltom positions of the various spindles of the machine.

The invention is described and illustrated with respect to the type of pattern controlledmachine tool employing a rotary masterform care ried. by a worktable, which also supports correfspending rotated workpieceaand a follower wheel carried by a tool head, which also supports corr'esponding cutters,"the said follower wheel scanf ning the masterform and guidingthe'cutters to reproduce the shape of the niasterform on he workpieces. In such a machine tool' the rota tion'of the masterformand workpic'es lorref sponds to the necessary cutting stroke; rea -ye movement between the masterform and workpieces on the one hand and the follower 'whe'el and cutters on the other hand in' a direction substantially normal to the axes of rotation 'oi? the masterform and workpieces constitutes-the necessary in and out movement for the 'r-eproduction of the profile of the masterform; and relative movement:- between the 'masterform and workpieces on the one hand and the follower wheel and cutters on the other hand in themrection of the axes ofhrotation of-the. master-.- form and workpieces constitutes the .i necessary index feed for the complete reproduction of the masterform. The relative in andout move: ment need not be performed in a direction which lies exactly at right angles to thedirectiongqfg the relative index-feed movement,,but, it ficient if these two relative movements occurm; two angularly related directions. i

'By reference now to the drawings it be. seenuthat the frame'of the jachine confsmts fefi a base I, in the form of a flat,,rectangular: ca t ing, at eachend of which is mounted ah upright or stanchion 2. Secured to'the topof eachstanchion2 isa standard pillar block 3 containing a standardballbearing' t, the arrangement being such thatthe ballbearings 4 are in accurate, co-

axial alignment; Pivotally. mounted Joymeans 0t the"ba1lbearings 4' is an arch shapedftool head; 5., J ournalled in suitable housings on meand r; side of the arch-shapedtool head Bareapaii of tool spindlesjfi to which are mounted grind wheels I. The tool spindles 5 are driven, throughthe intermediary belts and pu11eys,bya pai of electric motors,imounted on the uppersurface of the arch-shaped tool head 5. 'Thetool spinms- 6 are arranged equidistantly one on either side o'f the verticalcentre line of:the machine; landitheir. axes are parallel; and lie in the same plane; carried.- by' the tool head 5 is a" rotary follower;

spindle 8 arranged on the vertical pentre'linej of themachine and-having a follower wheel 9" The stanchions 2 are connected and braced by a horizontal tube H. The lowerend ofa vertically extending air cylinder [2 is pivotally mounted adjacent the centrepoint of the tube LI whilst the upper end of thepistonrod of ,thegsaid cylinder is, in turn, pivotally connected-to. the end of an arm I3 secured to the ,tool head 5. Mounted coaxially on the said piston'rod, inside the air cylinder [2, is a spring [4. The force exerted by the spring 14 is sufficient to cause the toolhead 5.,torpivot and .raise the grinding wheels 'jf-andith follower wheell9l Duringthe operanon of -themachine the grinding wheels 7 and the followerflwheel' 9 are maintained in contact fithltlie corresponding workpieces and mastergs eaivay, by the introduction of air unlder bfssu'r-intothe lower portion of the air cylinder il'2, t h:rough' a suitable port and pipe.

M ulation of the air pressure, the force maintbs-gr nd n Wh el 1 nd f w wheel ontact with the corresponding workpieces aster i rm r spec ve ma b c ntr ll ,der to obtain a satisfactory following action irlie iollqwcrwheel-fi l i n-thc rotary mastcriorml the centre oi ravity or. the tool head isarrane d almost di ectly above th p v tal a s th reon :andthe distance from the points of contactpi'thezfollowerand grindingwheels to the pivotal fix siof the .toolhead .5, is made as short asis practical; thereby reducingas much as possible themoment of. inertiatof theltool head about itspivot.

fi'A;horizontalz work-table I 5 is :disposed beneath theltool heads, and consists of a casting having a. .paircof. relatively long, downwardly extending,- bracedi-arms J6. SuitabIe trunnions H are coaxially secured in the lower ends of-the arms 46 and are-rotatably mounted in standard-bailbearingssupported-in standard pillarblocksl 8 bolted to the sides of -the stanchions- -2. As shown in mgurec, one of the trunnions I1 is in the form of a tube and a driving shaft I9 is journalled in suitable '-beari ngs *concentrically' within the said tubeZ-" -Mo1:infted on thebase I'is a-motor incorpore-tingan apprbpriate'variable speed drive, and th "ot'or is coupled to the drivingshaft'ill. 'dournalled in'suitable bearings provided on the front-faceof theupper part of the worktable l5, is a-driven: shaftZl which lies parallel to "the d'riveshaft -|9 andis coupled thereto by suitable pulleys and a driving belt. The upper surface of the worktable l5 carries in appropriate bearings gag-pair ofworkspindles Zita 'masterform spindle 33 and their corresponding live centres. These spindles; 22*a'nd '23 are arranged inthe same rela-f tive'positions as the tool and follower spindles fi'andifiyand are adapted to be driven by means 'u tabIe wormgears 241m thedriven shattf Theiworkpieceslfi. for which the machineis set up are th'e 'iioughfmachine for'gingjs of the "brac s, ia compresso f of age turbine engineand thesjworkpiecs and a corresponding, master,- 5 as. he d b huck tr f ota ion by; the,

masterworkspindles 22 and masterform spindle 23 respectively.

The workpieces 25 and masterform 26 are movable in the direction of their axes of rotation in relation to the grinding wheels I and the follower wheel 9 respectively by pivotal movement of the Worktable I5 about the axisof -the trunnions 11.

The drive for' this movement of thetable I5 is furnished by a pair of cylinders and pistons 1,21! operated by compressed air, the action of which is subject to the control of a hydraulic cylinder Q28. 'Thecylinders 21 and 28 are secured to a-tie bar 29, whilst the piston rods of the said cylinders are secured to a yoke 30. The tie bar ,2 is pivota-lly=coupled to a bracket mounted on across member 3| connecting the arms l6 of the worktable l5, whilst the yoke 30 is coupled to a spring "bar '32 bymeans of two cables 33 passing over pulleys 34 carried by brackets secured to the tube II. The spring bar 32 is secured to and supported by :thelower endsof a .pairof tension springs 35jenclosed in cylinders 36 mounted on a h orifzontally disposed channel memberr 3-1 sup-.- ported by the stanchions 2. The upper ends of the spring 35 are secured in any suitable manner tothe upper en dsroi the cylinders 36.. The springs 35 are each preset-to have an initial tension, for example egluivalentto aforpe of 400lbs. and, therefore, the yoke 30 may be considered as rigidly connected to the. frame. of the machine duringno'rmal actuation of, the table 15 by the air cy inde s he hy r i c l n e 1 vantaseously, i cludcsa 'slowfeed co trol for the worktable 1 5 andlalso an overriding control per; mitt'ing rapid feed-0r return ofthe worktablelfa. The cylinders 2] are arranged to draw .the work abl 5 tQ-Ward h olheadt. an thi movement causes a pair of return springs...33','t be co p Eac srewm pr ng 3 s m u edon a'rod-39 whichis pivotally connected at one end to the crossmember and extends through a re FmdiI11 -h9$4Q s c re 2 he irllie i series? o a .tar Q! .2..-, T e x d i 3 1- xt ii a ce t n qi c ..-b91. th -,b s es nland sho sqrb r r ies e c m u 1 ed n th se x nsivnsc h re s-mesa re ain d ther onbyabl hru t washersand ut i Thcshmka sorber sp n 4| pr ideacuehi neds opaatthe snd' f bereturn si e is l. Prevent eama a c thezm chanim should failure. a e ccmrr ss d air; supply or anypart f he drive-ofthc fi -315 1 13 6 1 a 1 ItWill crtcl jz thatthense oi. a masterform ,7 se tio ;astbeblade e ye satisiactermoncrationcue: .to the thinse on or}; e;b1ade; andzwould 'in any as neces ita e erve low o eration ofthe. m chine. As illustrated in Figure 5, :the. b1ade sec.- en; s sacseauentlv mlcsedin. an envelope .of

uniform t s zgsui ahle. for; imparting theequired iq ewin mfintfittoi the; follower WhQQ L In Glider to :.qorzt cfzzreproduction when using-an; envelope, ma rforrrnzit is necessary for 41. 9.: i q llfi: qittheifollowerrwheel ,9: to..ibei1ess than the radiiof, thegrinding wheels 1 by anamount u o; ill s h qlifilefisa if masterform. Moreover, since in this machine-the rise and fall-pithegrinding; wheels. 1 and the follower Wheel, flflmcurs; incan" arcuate path, it is necessary that the point lower wheel. 9 with; thasurfacegof the masterform 26 and the points of produce thelenvelope .oithe envelope ofzthe,

of contact ofctheglfols:

contact of the grindings rou d;

35 should all lie substantiallyizon one and-Lthe'isame line 'WhicIiLis'paraHeLto the pivotal; axis aofzthe tool: head 5; I The :Qfollower .spindle' 8:? is; zconsequently, asrshown in. Figure 5, disposed; at: a; distance below the-plane containing thetool spindles 6 which is substantially 'equalxtothdthickness ifflli. of the envelope of. the ;masterform.s: This in ing wheels 1 on, thee other hand; perfect reproe cduction; will .notzbeyobtained. when the axes; of I theg'follower and grinding z'cwheels spindles are 7 inclined .to any extent to the axeseof the Spindles ofrthe workpieces and the masterform; 7 However, the discrepancy issmall and itmay become ,pensated for in various waysvsuch as by, raising thefollower, spindle 8, a, small distance, for, ex- -ample,1.'020 of an inch,-,and by modification of the revolves,to;prevent thev grinding wheel ,1 cutting ,intoztherootifl', the'cam' 44 hearing on the abutmentwheelnfi: forces the worktable: i5 fout away turnnecessitatesthat the mas'terformspindle' 23 .fo'rmoftheenvelope, master 26; and itdoes not prevent the -ruse of:-t he;- machine; tool for :finish V grinding such precisionparts as the blades of the turbines andcompresso'rs of gas turbine engines." 1i j p In operationythe follower wheels}? xrolling on the; profile of theenvelope masterform 26 rotated by the masterform spindle 23 causes-the tool head V5 to riseand fall, whereby tated in synchronism withth mas er m, 26 by e. works i es 2L 'T e workta le lei v in teadi y te..nre .;-tb iin x-i 'ter r ha the profile overthe whole lengthof the blades is T e massage;

s le 3 13-f 9m the; ni e exi e he worktable I5 is made relativelylarge-so as to minimize the change ,in angle which occurs, during the feed of the worktable ;l 5,,between the oll n grinding he l :onth n han d thesurfacesofthe masterform and workpieces 4 d respectivelypnthe other hand. 5

1 8 1? th r sl w v5 91 of s Wer eeee suchas the compressor blade illustrated in Figure 4, it is not possible to grind the whole surface of the bladeprofileusing a steady...rectilinear feed of the worktable l5. 'rrne grindingoperation can be readily accomplished up to the line V -V of Figure 4, but beyond this linefif' a steady in feed of eweit stebles e'ie me n einedsgi e ing wheel 1 would cut into the inclinedface of the root 43 of the blade during further, rotation thereof by the workspindleln; I.'o prevent such an i occurrence; a"'suitably i designed car'nf 44 (Figuresi and 4) ismounted'injappropriatefbear- [ings beneath the worktablejglb 'and drivenfby means ofgearsfromthe shaft 2'! in synchronism With the; rotation Of' th'wbrksp'indles 2 2 ing the feeder the worktahle l5, whenithe grinding wheel T' "reaches. .the i position :,on' {the the grinding wheels! eutt r u re profi e. on. the workp e es 2 e,-

.place the ball or rollerbearing s by newones than o f the w n -T nd ma ne a bladedndicated by"the line-New Figure '4', {the cam "44 comes 'intdruntaet with an abutment wheel 45 carried by a bracket 46 secured to one of the stanchions 2. The cylinders 21 maintain a steady in feed of the worktable 15 to permit the grinding wheel 1 to grind right up to the root 43 of the blade surface, but as the blade flvention refer 1 from] the tool 1 head 5, the i previously; described tension W springs v 35 ,extending to permit ithis movementof the worktable l5. Itwill be realized that by af suitable design, ofthe contour. of the cam 44, which is rotated; synchronously with a the blade thewhole of the surface between the line VV and the root 43 can be ground, without ,damage'tothe root 43.

Byrthe. pivotal mounting, in accordanceywith the 1 present invention, of both the tool head; 5 andithev workable .I5, a relatively. simple .con struction of automatic pattern controlledqrna chine tool'is realized. The pivotal; mounting of the toolhead' andworktable by meansof standard ballor roller bearings and pillar blocks-torender heteo hea Stan wo ble l5 mova e gi es fer ehee-nereon ructi n an iis i ewe swe e emp 'e' Mer ove th e h ar s; can. :be orerea i y te t 'asain t e ent of grit r d n m hin i l au s; de iorat on of the accuracy of the slideways. I When fitdoes bec me n ce s r t Overhaul a, mach e t true ed i eordeneewi h, t e; r e t invention, it is much simpler andquickej'rsto re- 11 3Q, y; -en re or the ac racy Q1 sw rn dew It is to be understood that various changes may be made. tothe shape, size and arrangement of partsiof I the above-described machine without departingfrom the scope of the invention. I

For example, instead of obtaining a cutting strokeby rotation of theworkpiece, as in" the ebereee b e em m nteifit ei entiena i may-be advantageou in the case of someworkn ee for th axes e hee ndl .e th ie ever wheel 9 and the grinding wheels 1 to be, arran ed normal to the axes of thespindlesof the}master form an workpieces respectivelyand to impart a-relativelyrapid reciprocatory motion tot-the worktable I51to obtain the cutting stroke; aslow rotary motionof the workpieces and masterform about theiraxes constituting; the index feedL -in such an ar'rangement. r j, The above described embodiments of them- 7 to the use ofgrinding wheels, but fit is to be understood that other cutters, suchas milling cutters'or abrasive wheels, may be employed in machine tools constructed in.accord;- e ewni einven ion a a r t will b realized that the lengths of the tool head Band theworktable 15 can readily be ex tendedto accommodate severalcutters and work: pieces respectively. In some constructions; it wo e l'edv ni e te. m o fai e m e -"ie e er .-W e e r e d n me erc ei ii at each end of the toolhead and worktableere spectively, It is consequently to jbecunderstood that the references in the v following claims to -;a masterform, workpiece, ;follower, grindingwheel den t n: t e. s ula a n to be co 7 strued as excluding the use of more than ,oneof eeh. t e e a t e c; What. I e es -m en ie n e -e n et elie se tool worktable having supporting arms extending therefrom at substantially right angles thereto,

bearings on the base for-pivotally supporting the said arms at the ends thereof, a spindle for a workpiece rotatably mounted on the worktable, a drive shaft, a bearing for rotatably supporting 

